Mark writes in,
My son recently was deployed to Iraq. His cell phone carrier is Alltel. Prior to leaving for Irag, he cancelled his cell phone coverage before the completion of his 2 year contract commitment. As his father, I telephoned Alltell, explained the situation and asked Alltel to have the $200 early termination fee waived. Alltel explained they only waive the $200 early termination fee if the party is DECEASED.
Seriously, that’s just messed up.
Mark, check out this post about Alltel’s policy for those serving in the military. Even if they refuse to budge on the ETF, they should be able to hold the account in limbo for 18 months without charging any fees.
(Thanks to Mark!)
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as much as i don’t like alltel, they were in the right on this one. cell carriers have military suspends and thus can accomodate a person being deployed but unless that soldier has changed his address to someplace outside of alltel coverage area, they are still to abide by their contract. i’m so sick of military folks thinking they’re entitled to everything simply because they get paid to be in the military. my father served 22 years and he never acted entitled. i stand behind alltel on their decision. and what a pansy, having his father call on his behalf. as far as i’m concerned, if you’re old enough to join the military, you’re old enough to handle your own business.
@pigeonpenelope: Iraq is way the heck out of Alltel coverage. Also, “pansy” is a tad disrespectful, while we’re at it.
And, yes, I work for a cellular carrier. I know that every one of the major carriers, my employer included, has idiotic policies that deserve to be shamed. I guess this is Alltel’s turn to have an idiotic policy shamed.
As a veteran of both Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, I can say first hand that most places are MORE than accomodating when conditions such as deployments are explained and reasonable exceptions requested. No cell phone carrier will just up and cancel a contract because you have a deployment order, however, they will surely suspend the account. I can’t tell you how many times retailers will just drop 20% when/if they found out I was military. Hell, my DAD (not a veteran) has received discounts because someone finds out I was a veteran. First hand, military folk have no room to complain about how they’re treated by the general public. I was at the airport the other day and was pleased to see people STILL clap when soldiers arrive. (Thank you, by the way)
That being said – and this goes to to all military, currently serving and veterans such as myself. Shut up. We’re simply doing our job, a difficult one yes, but when someone doesn’t give you the unreasonable leeway you’re asking for, it’s not a sign of disrespect. My dad is an auto mechanic and works in some pretty nasty conditions and has for 45 years and has never asked for a thing other than his rightfully earned wage. MOST professionals do the same.
We’re lucky in that military discounts and special conditions are everywhere, movies, restaurants, hell, even stripclubs drop their cover. When you cry because someone is “disrespecting” the military because they didn’t violate corporate policy by letting you drop your contract for free, you make all military look bad.
Final note, one GSM carrier, not sure which, has coverage in Iraq. I talk to a buddy frequently. His rates didn’t even change and it’s a normal US number. I think they helped IraqNet or whatever it’s called build an infrastructure so they got grandfathered in or something.
Andy
@Bladefist: The soldier should have had a Power of Attourny drafted for his father so that he could make changes to his account. My wife made one for me even though we are married just in case we get some asshole that doesn’t want to help me.
On this person’s topic though. What solider should have done was sent a copy of his orders to Alltel and told them to hold his account until he got back.
I work for alltel and we have a military plan where we hold the account for as long as the soldier is overseas. All you have to do is let us know.
This customer did not put the acct on hold. He just cancelled his service.
Alltel Supports America’s Troops!!!
It is called military suspend and every carrier has the same policy on military suspend. If you get it reconnected and have a customer service rep to reconnect it then get a copy of the orders to have faxed or placed on file. They will suspend service with no charges. This takes place indefinitely on personal or business accounts. This is federally mandated. Of course when he gets back from deployment he can have it unsuspended and complete his binding contract.
Lie and use an address in Alaska, or a Californian desert, they cant enforce that. Better yet, say he was discharged, but decided to take a permanent contract job in Iraq.